Do stressors stifle or facilitate employees' innovative use of enterprise systems: the moderating role of IT mindfulness

Purpose Innovative use of enterprise systems (ES) by employees is essential for organisations to benefit from huge investments in such systems. Drawing on job demands-resources (JDR) theory, this study explores how stressors (i.e. challenge and hindrance stressors) influence employees' innovative use of ES, as well as considering the moderating effects of IT mindfulness. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected from a longitudinal survey of 152 employees in a large financial service company in China. Hierarchical multiple regression was used to test the research model. Findings Results showed that challenge stressors exerted a positive effect and hindrance stressors had no significant effect on innovative use of ES. Furthermore, we found that IT mindfulness weakened the positive effect of challenge stressors and the negative effect of hindrance stressors on innovative use of ES. Originality/value This study is among the first to extend the research of innovative use of ES by considering two types of stressors based on the JDR theory. Besides, new insights are provided on how to promote employees' innovative use of ES in the post-acceptance stage according to the different levels of IT mindfulness of employees.

Automated summary

This study explores the impact of stressors (challenge and hindrance stressors) on employees' innovative use of ES, with the moderating effects of IT mindfulness. Results show that challenge stressors have a positive effect, hindrance stressors have no significant effect. IT mindfulness moderates the effects of stressors on innovative use of ES. This research provides new insights on how to promote innovative use of ES based on employees' IT mindfulness levels.